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What kind of sand? -msg

koashmar Oct 18, 2004 01:13 PM

If I were to go with sand, what kind would you recommened? Calic-sand? Regular petstore sand? Or playsand?

Replies (4)

heartmountain Oct 18, 2004 01:34 PM

Playsand (sifted) pick it up at lowes. NEVER NEVER NEVER use calcisand, it is the worst crap on the market and almost guarenteed to impact your dragon. It does NOT digest at all (no matter what the package says) and gums up in the intestins causing a blockage. I know you didn't ask for the rant against calcisand but I figured I'd throw it in for people thinking about using it.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

five-o Oct 20, 2004 05:27 PM

No offense but I do not understand why people insist on using sand for their dragons. #1-they live on hard rocky ground/soil. There isn't Mohave type sand where they come from. #2-with a chance of impaction why risk it. If anyone cares more about appearances that the health of the dragon they shouldn't own one. I put paper towels on the bottom as a liner. Cork bark is good I found. It is rough like rock, cleans easily, and my dragon loves it when it's shedding. I have it in 18 to 24 inch sheets in my tank.

AlteredMind99 Oct 18, 2004 02:00 PM

don't ever use calci-sand! Or any kind of reptile sand that claims to be digestible. It isnt and it can easily kill your lizard. Sifted playsand works great and at places like home depot you can buy a 50lb bag for 3.99

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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

theLC Oct 18, 2004 03:58 PM

I've had bad things happen with calci-sand and lost my first beardie that way. Your substrate depends on how old your dragon is. If it's young use papertowels or anything but sand, they just impact too easily when they're that young in my opinion. As they get older the sand is fine, they pass it easier. I used playsand for the longest time cuz it's cheap and looks good but I noticed the grains are very sharp with edges. I now use Repti-sand because the grains of sand are weathered and rounded. it comes in different colors and the colors tend to stain your lizard a bit but i've only used the natural red color, so maybe white would work better, I don't know. But I like the idea of it being smooth. That's just my experience and personal preference on substrates for beardies. I lost a great dragon to impaction so now i take it very seriously.

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